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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Part 2/2</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You can take off the blindfold, nnnow."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina pulled the strip of bandages off her face. Before her stood a tabby cat in a headscarf. She shut her eyes, opened
them. The cat's silver-green eyes blinked solicitously under the matching scarf. Why not, Mina thought, they can wear any other kind of clothes they like. She was the first one Mina had seen in a dress, though, and she had longer whiskers.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"My nname," said the tabby, "Is Inayya. Please help me with this ramp."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The catgirls had brought an uncharacteristically inconspicuous van, parked it a safe distance from the scene of battle,
and filled it with their wounded when the conflict was done. Mina had been put in next to Maow's cot, while another pair of cats, one black and one white, both bloodied and bandaged, snarled and swatted lethargically at each other in half-anesthetized stupor
on the van's floor. Inayya gazed at them disapprovingly, pulled out a bottle and began to spray. "Behave!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">As the pair rolled apart, yowling in protest, Mina stepped delicately past them and into the Social Justice Warrior Cats'
secret base. She was in a large space that looked like some kind of indoor loading platform, with mysterious equipment and scrap metal stacked against the walls. There were strange marks on the floor and ceiling and walls, and many of the fluorescent lights
were out.. A large garage door stood open at the other end. Beyond, she saw a concrete parking lot beginning to succumb to weeds.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"The otherrs will be here soon, unless they are challenged on the way. Here." Inayya showed her where to grab and pull,
and the ramp clattered to the ground. Mina stood back as the tabby pulled both the other conscious cats out of the van, helping them over to a bench where they leaned against each other woozily; but when she returned to check on Maow, the human was already
by her side. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Is she gonna be all right? When will she wake up? Should she be in a hospital? Does she need surgery? Oh, Elvis, you
don't need me to help with THAT, do you?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya placed a furry hand on the babbling human's shoulder. "We heal fast. And I would not trust clumsy human hands
innn my surgery. You will help to mmove this cot, instead. You two! Stop it, orrr I will give you sshots until you sleep it off."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">As they rolled Maow out of the van, Mina focused her tired brain on someone who was in even more direct peril: herself.
Inayya guided them towards a door, presumably leading deeper into whatever complex this was. Wasn't it better to see as little as possible in situations like this? "Um... What am I doing here? Am I a prisoner?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The feline eyes slanted back at her sardonically, a claw tugging at her scarf. "Afraid of lllosing your head?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"N-No!" Mina blurted. "I mean... it's not like that. I'm... a little afraid of being eaten, actually."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"They do not eat such as you. Yoou are too clearly an innocent. I do nnot eat humans at all--it is not halal--nor does
this one," she rested a hand on Maow's leg, "if you wwere wondering." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Um. Halal?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Yes. I choose to follow the dictates of a human religion. Be onnnne of you, for a day a week. For the sake of unnnderstanding,
to start, but I nnow have the greatest mastery over animal instinct of any of my sisters."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"They tried to kill each other."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmind control, I understand? This can happen to anyone."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina shivered. "So I've heard. What about the people who were... more fully brainwashed? Can they go back to normal?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmmm." Inayya mmmmm'ed. "Without reinforrrcement, they may break control."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh," Mina sighed, relieved. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Orrr," the feline continued, contemplating, "the pack instinnct may hold them to their purpose until their missstress
returns to reclaim them. A weakness in youur kind, if you'll parrdon the observation."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Can't you--anyone--do something?!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Thoughtfully: "We cannnot take them without killing or dying. They will need supplies--we might take the ones whho leave?
But we cats are unsuited to be jailors. If we obtain a mmmind control device of our own, we might overwhelm theirr conditioning quickly. If. Nnno, they must be left to their own devices for now."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">They were deep into the corridors now, dim and cluttered. There had once been offices here. As they passed an open door,
Mina caught a glimpse of a room filled with torn papers and clawed wood. There were stains on the paper... blood?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You never said if *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">I*</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> was
a prisoner or not."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Would you walk away if I said no? You have not tried to escape."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Well, you did come to save me. And Maow-- your people got injured... I told Minyang I would help her find something.
I threw it off a bridge, though. I don't even know if it's still there." Mina chewed on her lip. "Does she...?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Eat sentients?" Inayya paused thoughtfully. "She tries to control that instinct now. I would nnnot allow it, in any
case. I believe yoou honest, and Maow is quite fond of you. Yoouu will be released, with proper precautionns."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina fell silent as they walked the halls. The torn remains of a wall chart showed some kind of graph, with unintelligible
scientific terms on it. She would have asked what this place had been, but she didn't quite dare. Soon they passed through a set of double doors into a cleaner area; an infirmary of sorts, Mina guessed, although she couldn't identify the equipment.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You needn't stay for this if you'rrre squeamish," said Inayya, unwrapping her headscarf. She pulled a surgical mask
out of a drawer, customized to fit her cat ears. "Don't wander too far. We aren't alone herre."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina didn't want to distract her. "I'll just... be outside." Inayya, already snipping Maow's bandages away, only nodded.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Outside the infirmary, Mina examined her surroundings more closely. The walls had been painted over, but she could see
more burn marks underneath. There were scratches, too, and what might have been bullet holes. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">There had been fighting here...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A glass window in a nearby door glowed invitingly with indirect daylight.
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">I won't go far.
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina walked quietly over, trying not to feel like she was creeping. Turning the knob, she pushed the door open. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The room was stacked with cushions, scattered with... styrofoam packing peanuts? Atop this sumptuous mound, lit by a
direct beam of sunlight, a sand-colored cat sprawled naked in an eye-watering contortion of a humanoid frame, her spine bent almost double, one leg lifted high. At the sound of the door opening, she paused in her anatomically unlikely ablutions to stare blank
suspicion at Mina. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sorry!" the latter blurted, closing the door. She sank against the wall, hands over her mouth, her whole frame shaking
with hysterical giggles. When she had regained some mastery of herself, she peeped through the window. The catgirl's tongue was between her toes, oblivious, as if she had never been interrupted. Mina took another few minutes to compose herself, wiping away
tears of mirth, trying to tell herself it wasn't THAT funny, and she was being rude besides. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Her breath caught, she realized that she was quite hungry. She slipped her backpack off, digging blindly in the side
pocket. Had she always kept so many pointy objects in here? Eventually, her excavations produced an energy bar. Disposing of this made her thirsty, but she had neglected to pack a drink.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">There were usually water fountains in places like this, weren't there? She didn't know if she wanted the water here,
though. What if that was what turned you into a catgirl? She had no idea where they came from. For some reason, it had seemed rude to ask. She didn't know how many there were, either. Obviously more than she had seen, despite the quiet. Regular cats slept
during the day. Maybe humanoid cats did too, some of them.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Standing up, she glanced back and forth. There had to be a break room somewhere around here... maybe it had an unlooted
vending machine? She slipped her pack back on and trotted off. She wouldn't go too far... up to that corner. She peeped through windows as she went. Here was what had once been a meeting room; now its whiteboards and walls alike were covered with scrawls and
diagrams. Mina couldn't understand a scribble of it and for a brief instant wished her college had offered a major in Science. Next door, bathrooms. No windows there, so she opened the door a crack before stepping in. It was surprisingly clean here. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">At least they don't have a bathroom full of kitty litter.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The giggles threatened to overcome her again, and she stepped backwards, letting the door close and falling against the
opposite wall. Unfortunately for Mina, it was not a wall, but another door, and it swung open as she fell against it.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">This room was some kind of dressing room, she noted as she rubbed her bruised behind. Coat pegs along one wall. Very
clean. The only furniture was a stand holding... hazmat suits? Intact ones. But she was here for water and there was none to be seen, she reminded herself, trying to quash curiosity. Nothing here but some suits and a double set of glass doors, like an airlock... </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The room beyond the doors was not brightly lit, but enough to make out tubes and glass tanks and all sorts of mystery
equipment associated with an arcane manifestation of Science. Mina tried to get her face as close to the glass as she could without leaving a nose print. There were rows upon rows of the tanks... most were broken, but one... one--</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sssssooo." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina froze. The voice had come from so very close behind her, the breath warm on her neck. She didn't want to turn, but
she had to...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The absence of her armor--or any other covering--did not lessen the menace of Minyang, her size doubled by puffed out
fur. Her ears, flattened, were near invisible. The single dilated predator's eye awakened all kinds of unpleasant atavistic memories in the human's brain.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The door felt very solid against her back, despite its transparency. No escape. "I'm sorry! I--I was--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You lure my sister with scennnnnnnt and scrrrratchings. She trrrrusts, foolishly--she comes to yourrrrr aid--she suffers,
is wwwwounded, to brrrrring you herrrrre--so yyyyyou cannnnnn steal our secrrrrrets, steal ourrrrrr KITTENS!" The last, a screech.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I didn't! I wasn't--I'd never!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Khhhhssssssssssssssssskkk...." The close-up of Minyang's fangs was a nightmare almost as bad as her rotting-meat breath.
If only she was as fastidious with her dental hygiene... the memory of the sand colored catgirls' toilette returned, along with the fatal giggles. Mina ducked her head, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "Something funnnnnnny, humannnnn?" Mina covered her
traitorous mouth with her hands, tears flowing down her cheeks.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">I'm about to die for the dumbest reasons...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Back!" The word was accompanied by a yowling counterpoint from Minyang. She had raised a claw to strike, but now flung
herself to the side, trying to avoid the stream of water spraying from Inayya's Super soaker. She rolled away, leaping back to her feet to face Inayya as the stream tapered off.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sssssshe laughs at us!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya glanced at Mina, who sat on the floor trying to catch her breath. "So I see. I thinnk it is some kind of trrrauma
response."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina wiped her face. "I... hehe... I'm fine actually..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Minyang looked at the human suspiciously, whiskers quivering. She pushed Mina against the glass of the door, sniffing.
The girl gasped as she felt a rough tongue across her wet cheek, then Minyang gave a huff and stood back up, pointedly crossing to the other side of the room and turning her back.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya stepped forward to help Mina up, her claws politely sheathed. "You knnnow something of what we arre now. And?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina stared through the door at the little kitten growing in the one functional tank. It was cute. "I kinda hoped you
were aliens..." looking back, she caught a glimpse of Minyang's fangs, "Only because I wanted to see a spaceship! It's not any of my business. Really. I'm sorry I wandered off, I just... really didn't want to be bored just then."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sssso you sssssay. And whhhhhen Maow wakesss, whhhhhat will you do? Ssspurrrnnnn her? Bigoted huuummmans!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina stopped paying attention to the angry spitting, having been reminded of more important things. "Maow! Is she-- will
she--?" Inayya nodded. With one less worry, Mina turned back to Minyang. "I'm not going to hook up with your sister just because you threaten me, okay? I like her but we have some pretty big differences of opinion about whether it's okay to brainwash and murder
people. Just because she's graceful and sweet and has beautiful silky fur which I thought would be weird but it's actually really nice--and thinks I smell good, which no one else has ever told me--it doesn't mean all the stuff you people are trying to do--ugh!
Never mind. I really don't care where you come from, and that's all." She folded her arms, daring the damp catgirl to take issue.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya spoke first. "Wwe wish to influence humanity for ourr own ends, yess--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Minyang pawed at the glass door, staring past it at the tiny figure growing in the unbroken tank. "Ourrrrr kittennnnnnnnnnnns
will nnneverr be safe whhhile your kinnnnd are lllllllllike this. Grrrrrrrrreedy, vicious, rrrrracist all the time for nnnnno reasonnnn, overrrrpowerrrred, nnnnnnnnearly destrrrrroying the entirrrrre wwwwworld everrry year or two--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"That was just back in the 90's!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Only the evennnts we know of," put in Inayya, "And they did leave their marrks, did they not?" Mina looked down. "There
are morrre super-powered humans than everrr before... but humannn nature has nnot adapted. A nnnew Genocide War could happen at any time. The danger is to you as well as usss."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I... get it. I really do. Humans aren't so great. But brainwashing people... what if someone decided catgirls were too
dangerous, and had to be brainwashed? Or worse?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Innnn that case, they wwwwwwould be wrrrrong. Whhherrrreas, wwwwe are innnn the right."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What kind of argument is that? They'll just say the same thing, and humans way outnumber you! If you try to force the
main population--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I don't care for forrrce and bloodshed. The device is an alternative."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The human opened her mouth to respond, but Inayya lifted her hand. "We do not have to come to an agreement herrre and
now. Know, however, that we will defend our owwwn whatever comes. For now there is food for you, and water."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"...that would be great actually..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Annnnd then, you wwwill do as prrrromised. Commmmplete ourrrr device!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Several hours later...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I did warn you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Minyang pointed a claw at her. "Prrrretend to be disappoinnnnnted, or I will marrrrrk you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina ducked her head. "I'm really sorry the Belles got the location of the missing part from my mind and got hold of
it before you did. It makes me so sad that neither of you can carry out your incompatible evil plans."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Yyyou think we don't underrrrrstand sarcasmmmm, human?" Her gaze grew distant for a moment, and she lowered her hand.
"You're verrrry lucky. Every time it seemmmmms you have prrrrrovoked me sufficiennnnntly to earn biting, the face of mmmmy foolish sister Maow appearrrrs before me."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina flushed, distraught for real this time. "Is that why you're only threatening to maim me now? Maybe you don't have
to worry. I don't have the thing you've been looking for any more. That's why she was following me around, right?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">This time Minyang did cuff her on the back of the head, but lightly, without claws. "Idiot, nnnnnnnoseblind human fool!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Cannnnn we go now? Cold. Want a prrrrrrroper bath." The hairless catgirl who had been tapped for the unfruitful diving
job shivered theatrically in the Florida heat. She had already divested herself of her gear with maximal complaining.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Yes, can we? She needs sunblock and probably a tetanus shot."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Ffffoul lotions!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sssssshots?!?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Okay, pretend I never said anything!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She heard about it the whole way back anyway. Even with the blindfold on, Minyang's driving seemed excruciatingly slow
and careful. And when the hairless catgirl stepped out of the van, the first one to greet her was Inayya, dropping from the rafters with a hypodermic needle.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Antibiotics," she explained to Mina as she stepped back, clearing the way for a horrified Minyang to comfort her squalling
comrade. "Yyou should have seen what I had to do to give them their rrrabies shots. Did you meet with success?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina shook her head, which made her realize that her mouth was open. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Nnnno matter. We must sourrce it elsewhere." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Can you just not?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya purred contemplatively. After a moment she said, "I can take you home, now. Orr you may see Maow. I will not force
you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina hopped out of the car. "If she's awake... yes, I want to see her."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Then followw." She turned on her heel, nimbly dodging a half-hearted swipe from the hairless catgirl she had assaulted
so heartlessly. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">They found her sitting by a window in what had once been an office, being licked on her uninjured arm by the same sand
colored catgirl Mina had encountered earlier. Mina almost burst into an ill mannered protest, remembering where that tongue had been, but was luckily forestalled by another bout of hysterical giggles. Maow and the other catgirl looked up, startled. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Inayya sighed. "Nyaara, out." When the other catgirl had scampered away, she closed the door, leaving Mina and Maow alone.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are...ha... you all right?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmmaybe I shhhhould ask yyyou that."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina rubbed at her eyes. "I... think so. Those women did something to my head. And I met... well, it's just been a very
strange day." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow reached to scratch her bandaged wound, then restrained herself with visible effort. She stared out the window at
the twilight. "Ssssit? Please." Mina sank down on the couch next to her, close, not quite touching. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">They sat in silence for a moment, Maow looking out the window, Mina watching her lovely face and thinking about how nice
it would feel to caress the fur right underneath her jawline. "I don't have that item anymore," she said reluctantly, "The people who took me found out where it was. I didn't want to tell them, but... they were telepaths. I--I don't stand up too well against
real superguys..." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I wwwwwwwilll. Eat their eyes."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Inayya said you didn't do that."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She growled sullenly. "Mmmake an exception." Her eyes shifted to meet Mina's. "Yyyou know, now. Aaabout us."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What?" The girl responded, confused by the change in subject. "Oh... you mean this place. I don't really know a lot.
You grow kittens in tanks. I guess you were genetically engineered as soldiers. Then something happened to the people who made you... they were attacked... or was it you, rebelling...? I'm sure you had good reason, though!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Nnnnnot soldiers. Wwwwas us. Wwwe did." Her tail began to twitch. "We arrre not nnnnatural. We wwwwill not aaapologize
for this."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh, that doesn't matter. Lots of good people have been grown in jars and made by science experiments and things."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Yyyou don't knnnnow aaaall the details..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow's voice trailed away. In her uncertainty, she seemed much less unflappable feline and more vulnerable human. Impulsively,
Mina grabbed her hand, running a thumb over fur. "I don't care! Unless you do...?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow had begun purring slightly, and at this, closed her eyes halfway. "Howwww dare we be crrreated? Such aaaabominations,
wwwe should spend all our daaays apologizing for ourrr existence, and certainly nnnnever seek to haaave kittens of ouuurr own?" Her lips parted a little in a sharp toothed smile. "That kind of aaannngst. Is for humans."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Good," said Mina firmly, "There are so many better reasons in the world to angst. It's never mattered to me that you're
part cat. You keep being there when I need you, although... I gave up my only secret. You don't have to keep helping me. I don't have anything left to give you. I don't even know what food you like..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow put her hand up against Mina's lips, the tips of her fingers cat-pad tough. "Like yooou. Not to eat, though! You'rrrre
the best human I've met. Dull and clummmmsy and mmmmisguided, but less so. A mouse who stannnds her ground. And kind."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"And you're clever and graceful and badass and gorgeous and all kinds of things I wish I could be. Kinda out of my league,
except, well... It's more the murder... and brainwashing... aspect... and following me around gets kinda creepy if you wanna know the truth!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"If I donnnn't follow... how can I finnnd you?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Use a phone like a normal person! Exchanging phone numbers is an important part of human relationships, you know!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Thennnn... mmmmaay I have your nummmmmber, please???" Maow produced a pen from the couch cushions, preparing to write
on her sling.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina opened her mouth to do so, but paused, considering. Was she moving too fast, still? "You have to promise me some
things first."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Thinnnnnnnngs?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I don't like your plans for changing the human race, but I don't think I can talk you out of them right now... Actually
I think you could take showers instead--" Maow hissed in shock. "Or at least try? Just once? If it's that bad, you can go back to licking yourself. You're not near as bad as Minyang but you should still brush your teeth afterwards. And quit trying to follow
me into the bathroom, I'm really not into that! Also in case you were thinking of it, you can't leave disemboweled criminals on my doorstep... that will attract police. Oh, and you have to take all your shots."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmmmiiiinnnnaaaaaaaaa!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"There's raccoons and things all over! I don't want you to get rabies... especially not if you're going to give it to
me. What else... oh yeah, if you have a hairball it can't go in the sink..." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"If Iiii have to do all this you hhhaaave to leave your doorrrr open so I can get innnn."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are you kidding? ANYONE could get in!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmmmm... window, thennnn."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mosquitoes exist, Maow. How about you use the phone for a little, like a normal person, and maybe I'll give you a key."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"But I wonnnn't have shots unless yooouu promise nnnnever to touch my stomach..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> "Then you can't roll over and show it to me."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Opprrrrrrrressive!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">And on, into the night, the negotiations went.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"May I help you?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Simone's back was straight, her smile polished perfect. The middle aged woman standing before the counter was unextravagantly,
if professionally, dressed, the plain blue skirt and blouse not quite tailored to her unfashionably plump frame. Her face might have been somewhat pretty if it were a little less tired. With those looks, she was either a clueless normal in the wrong place
or a serious customer indeed. She had not paused to gawk as she bustled her way through the cafe, merely nodding curtly when she brushed against the table of Violent Violet and the Excessively Large Beetle and they fixed her with menacing glares. The woman
moved as though she had business here, and that put Simone on full alert.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Good afternoon. I believe my daughter works here. I'd like to speak with her as soon as possible, please."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">IS IT REALLY MINA'S MOTHER?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">IS MINA IN TROUBLE?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">IS MINA IN LOVE?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">WHO CREATED ALL THESE CATGIRLS ONLY TO LET THEM RUN AROUND WREAKING HAVOC?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">HOW MANY CATGIRLS ARE THERE, ANYWAY?</span></p>
<br>
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